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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
At times this story in an unconvincing collection of clichés following a family through a series of significant, patriotic moments but the ending kind of endeared me to the characters. A mild, amusing diversion.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a saga of a family told over many decades. It uses some of the main events in the UK, (world cup, queen's jubilee etc). I was excited to read this as it was set in Bournville and I had seen a lot about Jonathan Coe's Middle England. I had fond memories of reading a book with Bournville as a setting 15 years ago.
I was disappointed. Bournville barely featured, there were so many characters and different events, that there was little space for any depth and as a result didn't leave me with any affinity for the characters. I did like the points in time chosen, and the events described but felt like I was watching a cheap version of the Crown.
I enjoyed first half of the book as I thought it was building up to something, but it didn't so it was a laborious read in the end.
I was disappointed. Bournville barely featured, there were so many characters and different events, that there was little space for any depth and as a result didn't leave me with any affinity for the characters. I did like the points in time chosen, and the events described but felt like I was watching a cheap version of the Crown.
I enjoyed first half of the book as I thought it was building up to something, but it didn't so it was a laborious read in the end.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Brilliant, I loved it. Funny, poignant, moving, angry, beautifully observed, love the history up to the present day.
A brilliant and intriguing book, the story of Britain told by Mary, a woman living in Bournevell. It's not an easy review because I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, loved Mary, and learned a lot about moments and how the social changes since the end of WWII.
I also learned about Bourneville, a sort of utopian town build in the XIX century by Cadbury brothers.
Jonathan Coe is a master storyteller and the characters are lively and intriguing. I loved Mary, loved her being down to the hearth and her will to live and face her life-threatening illness as my mother.
It's a fascinating book that helped me to understand how history and people changed.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
I also learned about Bourneville, a sort of utopian town build in the XIX century by Cadbury brothers.
Jonathan Coe is a master storyteller and the characters are lively and intriguing. I loved Mary, loved her being down to the hearth and her will to live and face her life-threatening illness as my mother.
It's a fascinating book that helped me to understand how history and people changed.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes